Traffic signal reflector



Dec. 29, 1931. R. w. LUCE TRAFFIC SIGNAL REFLECTOR F iled May 18, 1927INVENTOR A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICERICHARD W. LUCE, OF MAPLE'WOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN GASAC-GUMULATOR COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY TRAFFIC SIGNAL REFLECTOR My invention relates to reflectors whichare adapted for use in connection with traflic control, preferably uponhighways and streets, but may be used in connection with traffic ofother character and for other purposes for which it may be suited.

Reflectors of this character shouldbe such that they are visible as avresult of reflected light to those approaching the same from widelyvarying angles. It is desirable that the reflecting area of thereflector shall be as large as compatible with economy in construction.,Heretofore in the construction of reflectors of the character of thatto which my invention relates the practice has been to combine or unitea plurality of reflector units in contiguous relation to each other in asingle structure, each unit being complete in itself and performing itsfunctions independently of the other.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a. structureof unitary but novel character in which the reflecting surfaces arecombined to form a single unit and which surfaces are so related to eachother as to effect reflection of the rays of light which I may impingethereon in a return or backward direction parallel or substantiallyparallel with the incident impinging rays.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a reflector comprisinga plurality of couples of tapered sides, the sides of each of the saidcouples being arranged at right angles to each other and the line ofintersection thereof forming a right angle with the opposing surface ofa tapered side constituting a portion of the opposing part of thereflector structure.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a reflector consistingof a plurality of fragmentary portions of central triple reflectors, oneof the said fragmentary portions including a corner formed by theintersection of two adjoining or contiguous sides and a flat or planeportion opposed thereto upon the opposite side of the reflectorstructure, the inner surface of the latter forming a right angle withthe line of intersection of the surfacesof the said two intersectingsides, the intersecting and flat sides alternating with each other andbeing arranged around a central axis and converging toward a point onsaid axis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light reflectorcomprising a plurality of couples of reflector surfaces, the surfaces ofeach couple being arranged at right angles to each other, and aplurality of plane reflector surfaces arranged about a single point inalternate relation to the said plurality of couples of reflectorsurfaces.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reflectorconsisting of sheet metal having a plurality of flat' tapered sides sorelated as to form a structure of general cone shape, the said sidesconverging toward an apex and including a plurality of couples of sidesarranged in right angular relation to each other to provide rightangularly related reflecting surfaces and a plurality of singletaperedsides to provide a plurality of flat reflecting surfaces arranged inalternate relation to the said couples of angularly related sides.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in thedetailed description thereof which follows or will become apparent fromsuch description. In order that the invention may be readily understoodand its practical advantages fully V appreciated reference should be hadto the accompanying drawings in which I have 11- lustrated certain formsof embodiment thereof. However, it is to be understood that changes inthe details of construction may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the principle of the invention.

In the drawings,

liig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a reflector embodying theinvention, the light diffusing sheet employed in practice being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 withthe light diffusing sheet in place;

Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is aview similar to that of Fig. 1

but showing a modified structural embodiment of the invention in whichthe sides consist of glass mirrors.

In the drawings I have shown a reflector comprising, as hereinbeforesuggested, a plurality of fragmentary portions of central triplereflectors combined in a manner to produce a single reflector which maybe defined generally as of cone shape; that is to say, the respectivereflector elements embodied in the structure are tapered and arrangedaround a central axis and extend eonvergently toward an apex. Thisrelationship is clearly indicated in Fig. 2- of the drawings.

In the reflector a plurality of groups of three reflecting surfaces arearranged to cooperate with each other in the reflection of impingingrays of light. Each group may be regarded as consisting of a couple ofcooperating elements. In order to more readily and effectually indicatethe relation of the reflecting surfaces with respect to each other Ishall designate the elements of the respective groups by similarreference characters. The said reflector comprises the reflectingelements a and a, b and b, c and c, d and d, and e and e. The referenceletters a and a, b and b, 0 and 0, etc., designate respectivelyadjoining reflecting sides or means, the reflect-' ing surfaces of whichare arranged in right angular relation to each other. Flat sides orreflecting surfaces a, b, c, d, and e are arranged alternately withrespect to the plurality of couples of right angularly related sides orreflecting surfaces. For instance, the side a is located between thecouple of right angularly related sides c0 and the couple of rightangularly related sides 0Zcl, while the side (2 is located between thecouple of right angularly related sides 6-?) and the couple of rightangularly related sides 0c, and so on to include all of the flat sidesem bodied in the structure.

The line of intersection of the reflecting surfaces of the sides aaextends at right angles to the reflecting surface of the side a, whilethe line of intersection of the reflecting surfaces of the sides eeextends at right angles to the reflecting surface of the side e. Thesaid relation holds between the corresponding line and surface ofeach ofthe remaining groups of fragmentary portions of the central triplereflectors embodied in the structure; that is, between the cooperatingelements of each group.

Regarding the two reflecting surfaces of each couple of right angularlyrelated reflecting surfaces of the structure as a single reflectingelement, it will be noted that the re flector as illustrated comprisesten reflecting elements; that is to say, there are five couples of rightangularly related reflecting surfaces and five plane or flat reflectingsurfaces cooperating respectively with the said couples, making a totalof ten (10) reflecting elements in the structure.

This number may be increased or diminished within reasonable limits, butin every structure there will be in practice an even number ofcooperating reflecting elements. If an uneven number of reflectingelements were employed the shape of the completed reflector structurewould not be desirable.

In the construction as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of thedrawings the reflector consists of metal, preferably sheet metal shapedas shown to provide tapered sides related to each other as shown. Theinner surfaces of said sides are light reflecting.

In the manufacture of a reflector as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of thedrawings a sheet metal plate is spun to cone shape. The inner surface isthen polished to render it light reflecting. Thereafter the cone shapedmember is subjected to pressure in a mold, the cooperating faces ofwhich are shaped to produce the structure as shown in said Figs. 1 to 3.Such pressing and shaping do not detract from or destroy the reflectingsurface of the said member provided thereon by the previous polishingoperation.

Instead of polishing the inner surface of said member to render it lightreflecting it may be rendered reflecting by depositing thereon a coatingof silver or other suitable metal.

Reflectors of the character disclosed herein are used mostly for thepurpose of imparting information to automobilists, the head lights ofautomobiles supplying the source for the rays of light which impingeupon the reflectors. The presence of the diffusing glass 7 in front ofthe reflector enables the chauffeurs or drivers of automobiles toobserve the presence of the reflector more readily than if it were notpresent. Furthermore its presence increases very materially the criticalangle within which the reflector is visible to an approachingautomobilist due to reflected light.

Instead of constructing the reflector of sheet metal as shown in Figs. 1to 3 it may be constructed of tapered segmental sections 9 and g ofglass mirrors. These sections are of the same shape as the sides of themetal reflectors shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and are supported by any suitablemeans in the same relation to each other as the said sides. Although notshown, a light diffusing sheet should in commercial practice be employedin front of a reflector consisting of segments of glass mirrors as shownin Fig. 4.

The principle of reflection is the same whe her a reflector asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 or in Fig.4 is employed. Explaining theprinciple of reflection as effected by the reflectors by reference toFigs. 1 to 3 it may be noted that if a ray of light impinges for exampleupon one of the reflecting surfaces of one of the sides a, it isreflected to the other o f the sides a and from the latter to thereflecting surface of the side a from which latter side it is reflectedor projected back along a line parallel or substantially parallel withthe impinging ray. If the ray should impinge upon the reflecting surfaceof the side a it is reflected forward to the reflecting surface of oneof the sides a, thence to the reflecting surface of the other side a andfrom the latter is reflected or projected back along a line parallel orsubstantially parallel with the impinging ray. The same operation ofreflection is effected or takes place in connection with each couple ofcooperating elements; that is, with each group of reflecting surfacesformed by the fragmentary portions of central triple reflectors of whichthe reflector as a whole is composed, as previously stated.

In the present construction the fragmentary portions of five (5) centraltriple reflectors are embodied. As has been indicated, the number offragmentary portions may be increased or diminished within reasonablelimits. 7

By the employment of my invention I am enabled to provide a reflector ofgeneral cone shape in which all of the reflecting surfaces taper andconverge towarda common point on its axis as a result of which it ispractical to produce an eflicient reflector of unitary structure oflarger area than heretofore has been feasible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,

1. A reflector of general cone shape comprising a plurality of couplesof reflector elements arranged around a central axis and convergingtoward a point onsaid axis, each couple consisting of two sides thereflecting surfaces of which intersect and are at right angles to eachother, and a plurality of reflector elements having plane reflectingsurfaces alternating with the said couples of reflector elements andarranged around said axis and converging toward the same point thereonas that to which the said couples of elements converge, each of saidsecond named elements being located in opposed relation to one of saidcouples of elements with the reflecting surface thereof at right anglesto the line of intersection of the reflecting surfaces of said opposedcouple.

2. A reflector comprising a plurality of couples of sides, the sides ofeach couple being tapered and arranged in planes at right angles orapproximately at right angles to each other, and a plurality of singleflat tapered sides, the said couples of sides and the said flat sidesbeing located alternately with respect to each other and arranged aboutan axis and converging toward a point on said axis and the lines ofintersection of said couples of sides extending at right angles orapproximately at right anglesto the planes of oppositely disposed flatsides.

1 in number to the plurality of couples of said sides and which arearranged in alternate relation to the said couples of sides, the linesof intersection of the sides of said couples of sides extending at rightangles to the planes of oppositely disposed flat sides.

4. A reflector consisting of a single sheet of metal, said reflectorcomprising a plural ity of sides, certain of said sides being arrangedin couples with the sides of each couple approximately at right anglesto each other and intersecting and others of said sides being positionedapproximately at 7 right angles to the lines of intersection of thesides of said respective couples and in alternating relation to saidcouples of sides.

5. A reflector comprising a plurality of light reflecting sides, couplesof said sides being arranged aproxim'ately at right angles to eachother, others of said sides being disposed at approximately right anglesto the lines of intersection of the sides of said couples and in opposedrelation thereto, the said couples of sides and the others of said sidesbeing located alternately about a common axis.

6. A reflector of general cone shape consisting of sheet metal, saidreflector comprising a plurality of light reflecting sides, couples ofsaid sides being disposed approximately at right angles to each other,others of said sides being located opposite said couples of sides anddisposed approximately at right angles to the lines of intersection ofthe sides of said couflles, the said couples of sides and the others ofsaid sides being located alternately with respect to each other about acommon axis.

7. A reflector in which portions of a plurality of triple reflectors arelocated in contiguous relation to each other about a central axis, saidreflector including a plural-. ity of members each having a planereflecting surface, and a plurality of couples of members the reflectingsurfaces of the members of each couple intersecting and being .in rightangular or approximately right angular relation to each other, the saidfirst named members and said couples of members being arrangedalternately with relation to each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntosigned my name this 14th day of April, 1927'.

RICHARD W. LUCE.

